Under the UK law, amphetamines are controlled substances. The relevant statutes are the Medicines Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Therefore, doctors can prescribe them to patients legally, but any other unauthorized production, supply or possession is a criminal offense.
The Act divides controlled substances into three classifications: Class A DrugsIn the US, amphetamines are categorized under Schedule III, since they act on the central nervous system. Drugs classified in this manner share these characteristics:
Under U.S. law, it is illegal to manufacture, distribute or possess a controlled substance. A person who is convicted of manufacturing, possessing or distributing more than 5 grams of methamphetamine is subject to these penalties:
For a second offense, the minimum prison sentence goes up to 10 years. The fines also increase to up to $4 million for an individual and $10 million for an entity other than an individual.
The penalties for being convicted of possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine are as follows:
When the offense is committed by someone with a prior conviction for possessing or distributing methamphetamine, the penalties increase. The minimum sentence in this case is 20 years in prison. Where a death or serious injury resulted from the sale or distribution of the drug, the defendant in the case may be sentenced to life in prison. A third conviction means the defendant will automatically be sentenced to life in prison.
In Canada, amphetamines are a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Possession of a small amount of the drug is treated as a summary offense under the Act. On conviction, the accused is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, or both.
In a case where the individual has a previous conviction or the amount of the drug in question is larger, the penalties increase. Being convicted of trafficking carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
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